Middle East Conflict Escalates: USA on a Tightrope

The long-feared full-scale war in the Middle East has materialized. Since the brutal murder of around 1,200 people in Israel on October 7 of last year, U.S. President Joe Biden has repeatedly warned that a Hamas terrorist attack could escalate into a major conflict with Iran and its proxy Hezbollah. Recently, the situation has escalated dramatically. After Israel eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and launched a ground offensive in Lebanon, Iran responded on Tuesday by firing nearly 200 rockets at Israel. The conflict has taken a dangerous turn, reaching a level of drama not seen since the Arab-Israeli War of 1967. The urgent question now is how much the conflict could escalate and to what extent the United States will be forced to intervene directly. The past few days may mark a turning point. Since Nasrallah's death on Friday, the Biden administration has shifted from its previous warnings about a broader war to trying to control it instead. Nevertheless, U.S. officials defend Israel's right to retaliate against Iran but advise against direct attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, which could cause the conflict to spiral out of control. It is a balancing act that Biden is attempting to manage — albeit with limited success, even in the face of significant American military presence in the region.